Double hanger



'5. B. LEVINE ETAL DOUBLE HANGER Jan. 12, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 12, 196 3 L? li mm M mm mm INVENTORS 3ERA 4Ra .3. LEV/NE Poss/PTPym .0 5

Jan. 12, 1965 B. B. LEVINE ETAL. 3,155,245

DOUBLE HANGER Filed July 12, 1963 T1 Bk 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORSflaw/n20 3. LEV/NE FPOBE/PT l g/Amps United States Patent 3,165,245DOUBLE HANGER Bernard B. Levine, New York, and Robert Phillips, Roslyn,N.Y., assignors to Warbern Plastics, Inc, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporationof New York Filed July 12, 1963, Ser. No. 294,598 4 Claims. (Cl. 223-91)This invention relates to garment supporting devices and in particularrelates to a garment supporting device of a type having an upper hanger,a lower hanger pivotally connected to the upper hanger, and a singlesuspension means on the upper hanger.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved garmentsupporting device of the above type, wherein the two hangers may berespectively unitarily molded of plastic material and assembled togetherfor the aforesaid pivotal connection without the need for special toolsor insertion of special hinge pins.

Another object of this invention is to provide a garment supportingdevice of the above-described type having improved garment clip means onthe lower hanger portion.

This invention is an improvement over prior US. Patent No. 2,822,967 toSpitz and our own prior US.

I Patent No. 3,047,196.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, there isprovided a garment supporting device comprising a pair of flat upper andlower hanger members of molded thermoplastic. The upper hanger portionhas a central neck portion and shoulder portions extending outwardlyfrom each side edge of the neck portion, and has a pair of spacedintegrally formed ears extending perpendicularly from a face of the neckportion. The lower hanger member has a cross bar, spaced garment clipmembers depending from the cross bar, a

central neck portion extending upwardly from the cross bar andterminating at its upper end in spaced-apart coplanar arms, and a pairof spaced, integrally formed ears respectively extending upwardly fromthe upper ends of said arms. The lower hanger ears are located adjacentthe outer faces of the upper hanger ears. The upper hanger ears havealigned laterallythrough bores, and the lower hanger ears haverespective aligned inwardly extending pins extended turnably throughsaid respective bores.

The advantage of the invention is that the hinge pins are moldedunitarily with the lower hanger. The provision of the spaced-apartcoplanar arms referred to above and carrying the hinge pins is aparticular feature of the invention. While the lower hanger member isfresh from the mold and still hot, these arms may be spaced sufficientlyfor the inner ends of the pins to clear the outer faces of the upperhanger ears, with the pins then brought into alignment with the bores.The still soft and hot arms may then be bent to extend the pins throughthe bores, and when the plastic cools the arms become rigidly set in thedesired position with the pins through the bores.

Accordingly, the invention is particularly adavantageous in theelimination of metal hinge pins and in simplification and reduction incost of the assembly operation.

As another important feature of the invention, the lower hanger memberis provided with garment clip members as disclosed in our aforesaid US.Patent No. 3,047,196.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, inwhich a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the improved garment supporting device inaccordance with this invention, showing in broken lines a garmentsupported by the clips of the lower hanger member;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the garment supporting device in accordancewith this invention:

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 1, the hook being broken away,and shows the lower hanger member diagrammatically in dot-dash linespivoted from its normal position relative to the vertical upper hangermember;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the two hangermembers, showing in particular the hinge connection;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 55 of FIG. 1, showing a detailof the lower hanger member; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section on line 6-6 of FIG. 1, showing a furtherdetail of the hinge connection.

Upon reference to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that it showsa garment supporting device 20 comprising a pair of fiat upper and lowerhanger members 21 and it Each of these hanger members 21 and 10 ispreferably of unitarily molded thermoplastic, with the samethermoplastic being preferably used for each hanger member. However, itis within the scope of the invention to provide a separate hook memberfor the upper hanger member 21. As will be explained in detail below,the lower hanger member 1% is made of resilient thermoplastic, and it isalso within the scope of the invention to mold the upper hanger member21 of rigid thermoplastic. Optionally, the thermoplastic used may bepolyethylene, but the invention is not so limited.

Upper hanger member 21 includes a flat web 22 having front and rearfaces and reinforced around its margin by a web 23 extendingtransversely of the respective faces of web 22. Said web 22 has acentral neck portion 24 comprising an upper cross arm 25 and dependingside legs 26. These legs 26 are connected below arm 25 and above theirlower ends by a cross arm 27, for strengthening purposes. Said web 22further comprises shoulder portions 28 extending outwardly downwardlyfrom the lower ends of said legs 26 and hence extending outwardly fromeach side edge of the hanger neck portion.

Hook web 29 extends centrally upwardly from the top of arm 25, with webs22 and 29 being coplanar. Rib so similar to rib-23 reinforces web 29,except that in the lower shank portion of hook 29, the rib portion 30ais no longer marginal, as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

A pair of spaced integrally formed ears 35 extend perpendicularly fromthe front face of neck cross arm 25 and accordingly are located adjacentthe top of the neck portion. Preferably, the hook is centered relativeto these ears 35.

Each ear 35 is relatively thick and generally rectangular in shapeexcept that its front face or free end 36 is convex. Each ear 35 has alengthwise bore or channel 37 extending to its outer face andterminating short of its free end 36 and also extending completelythrough the arm portion 25 of the web to its rear face. This shape ofbore or channel 37 is clearly shown in FIG. 4.

Each ear 35 has a further lengthwise bore or channel 38 extending to theinner face of ear 35 and also to its free end 36. This shape of bore orchannel 38 is clearly shown in FiG. 4. As also shown in FIG. 4, the twobores or channels 37 and 38 overlap each other lengthwise and theirinner faces coincide, so as to define a through lateral bore 39 in ear35. The rear end 38a of bore or channel 38 and the front end 37a of boreor channel 37 are concave so as together to define a bore composed ofpart cylindrical segments. In any event, it will be understood that thecombined wall shape of bore 39 is such as to accommodate a cylindricalpin. It will further be apparent that the two bores or channels 37 and38 may readily be formed by pins in the mold, so

planar arms.

that the resulting bore 39 is formed in the initial molding without theneed for any further operations upon the hanger. It will further beapparent that the two bores 39 are laterally aligned.

The lower hanger member 10 comprises laterallyextending web or cross bar11 reinforced along its marginal portion by rib 12. Depending from theends'ofweb 11 to provide a two-point support are the pair of' garmentclips 15 each in the form of a series of fingers integrally formed withweb 11, The fingers 16, 17 and 18 of each series 15 cooperate tofrictionally retain a garment, such as a ladies skirt, mens trousers,and the like at two spaced points. See FIG. 1.

The series of fingers 15 forming each clip includes an outer finger 16,inner finger 18 and intermediate finger 17. Each finger 16, 17 and 18are slightly spaced one from the other in the lateral direction. It willbe noted that the inner finger 18 and outer finger 16 of each series15'are each forwardly offset relative to the main plane of web 11. Theinner finger 17 is rearwardly offset to extend to the other side oftheplane of'web 11. 7

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, each of the fingers 16, 17 and 18 terminatein a bullet-shaped or spon-shaped tip the bullet tips 16a, 17a, and 18of each finger have convexly curved faces projecting to define in eachinstance a shoulder 16b, 17b, and 18b spaced from the offset portionjoining each of the fingers to web 11. The contour or convex surfaces ofthe spoon-shaped or bullet tips 16a, 17a and respectively, of thefingers 16, 17, 13 face each other, with the thickened portion of thebul-.

let tips or faces extending beyond the plane of web 11. See FIG. 2.Thus, the arrangement is such that the 16a, 17a and 18a respectively. Asbest seen in FIG. 5,

spoon-shaped or bullet tips518a, 16a of the inner andouter fingers 18,16'overlie the bullet tips 17a of middle finger 17 when viewed from oneend of the hanger. With this construction, it will be noted that a space19 is defined between opposed intermediate portions 15c,

17c, 180 of the cooperating fingers 16, 17, 18, respectively.

The bullet tip 17a of middle finger 17 extends downwardly and terminatesbelow the tips 16a and 18a of the other two fingers 16, 18. Theextension of the middle finger 17 and the cooperating facing contours16d and .7

18d of the'bullet tips 16, 18a of the adjacent inner and outer fingersthereby define a guide opening or path to facilitate the insertion ofthe garment up past bullet tips 1d, 17a, 18a. The fingers 16, 17, 18being resilient, will give slightly and permits the garmentto passbet-ween -the opposed-fingers-16, 17, 18. The side of the finger in FIG.1.

lower hanger cars 45 respectively have aligned pins 46 extendinginwardly from their faces 45a, as clearly shown in FIG. 4. 7 p

In assembly, with the lower hanger member10 taken still hot from themold, the spaced apart arms .43 are spaced so asto maintain the bosses45 farther apart than their final position, permitting the inner ends ofpins 46 to clear the outer faces of ears 35. The ears 45 are thenlocated adjacent the outer sides of ears35, with pins 46 in alignmentwith bores 3%.. The still hot and soft arms '43 may then' be bent tofinal spacing whereby the pins 46' enter and extend through the bores39, with the ears 45 then located relatively closely adjacent butclearingthe outer faces of ears 35, as shown The pins 4d are. turnablewithin'bores 39, permitting the lower hanger to be moved, as shown inits broken line position of FIG. 3.. i V

. The resultingstru'cture is extremely simple, since the hinge pins areintegral with the lower hanger and since the provision of the spacedapart arms 43 carrying the hinge pins 46 permits assembly, while thelower hanger member is still hot and soft and fresh from the mold,without the need for elaborate tools or machining opertions.

It will also be understood that the somewhat resilient nature of theplastic of which the hangers is made makes omissions and additions maybe made in the invention 7 :without departing from thescope and spiritthereof.

We claim: V 1. A garment supporting device comprising a pair of flatupper and lower hanger members of uni-tarily molded thermoplastic, theupper hanger member having a central neck portion and shoulder portionsextending out- ,wardly from each side edge of said neck portionandhaving a pair of spaced integrally, formed upper hanger ears extendingperpendicularly from a face of its neck portion, the lower hanger memberhaving a cross bar,

, spaced garment clip members depending from. said cross bar, a centralneck portion extending upwardly from said cross bar and terminating atits upper end in spacedapant, coplanar arms supported at their lowerends, and a pair of spaced, integrally'formed lower hanger earsrespectively extending upwardly from the upper ends .of said arms withthe lower hanger earspositioned adjacent outer faces of the upper hangerears, said upper lower laterally spaced arms 41' extending upwardly anda slightly convergingly from web 11. for strengthening purposes, extendsbetween the upper ends of arms 41. Arms 43, which serve as extensions ofarms 41, extendupwardly from the outer ends of arm 42 and divergeslightly upwardly. These arms 43 serve as and are defined in the claimsas spaced apart, co-

A web 12a, similar to web 12, extends up the outer side edges of eacharm 41, 43.

A pair of spaced, integrally formed cars 45 extend upwardly from theupper ends of arms 43. It will be A cross arm 42,"

understood that the term ears 45, as used in the specification andclaims, is intended broadly to include any thickened bosses or othermembers of suliicient strength to support the'hinge pins. Each said earor boss 45 is relatively thicker than the web- 45, optionally has aconvex upper end and has an inner face 45a which is per pendicular tothe plane of web 11 and arms43. The

hanger ears having aligned lateral' through bores, said lower hangerears having respective aligned inwardly extending pins extended turnablythrough said respective bores. p g

2. Garment supporting device accordingtoclaim 1, each of saidupperhangerears having a lengthwise channel opening uponits outer face andterminating short of its free end and extending completely through saidupper hanger neck portion and a furthe'r'lengthwise channel openinguponits inner faceand extending to its free end and overlapping lengthwisesaid first-mentioned lengthwise channel adjacent free end'of said ear,the inner faces of said lengthwise channels coinciding to definesaidlateral bore. a 1

3. A garmentsupporting device comprising a pair of flat upper and lowerhanger members of unitarily molded thermoplastic,'the upper hangermemberihaving a central neck portionand shoulder portions extendingoutwardly from each side edge of said neck portion and havinga pairhanger member having a cross bar, spaced. garment clip members dependingfrom said cross bar, a central neck portion extending upwardly from saidcross bar, said central neck portion comprising spaced-apart, coplanararm members connecting at their lower ends to the upper edge of saidcross bar, a further cross bar connecting said arm members approximatelyat their midpoints to define spaced-apart, coplanar arm upper portionsof said arm members above said further cross bar and supported at theirlower ends by said further cross bar, and a pair of spaced, integrallyformed lower hanger ears respectively extending upwardly from the upperends of said upper arm portions, said lower hanger ears thickenedrelative to said arm members with the lower hanger ears positionedadjacent outer faces of the upper hanger ears, said upper hanger earshaving aligned lateral through bores, said lower hanger ears havingrespective aligned inwardly extending pins extended turnably throughsaid respective bores.

4. Garment supporting device according to claim 3, each of said upperhanger ears having a lengthwise channel opening upon its outer face andterminating shont of its free end and extending completely through saidupper hanger neck portion and a further lengthwise channel opening uponits inner face extending and to its free end and overlapping lengthwisesaid first-mentionad lengthwise channel adjacent said free end of saidear, the inner faces of said lengthwise channels coinciding to definesaid lateral bore.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,469 9/96Abrams 211-99 2,137,268 11/38 Clairon 22388 X 2,634,032 4/53 Barlett223--88 2,822,967 2/58 Spitz 223-88 3,047,196 7/62 Levine et a1. 22396JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

1. A GARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE COMPRISING A PAIR OF FLAT UPPER AND LOWERHANGER MEMBERS OF UNITARILY MOLDED THERMOPLASTIC, THE UPPER HANGER MEMBRHAVING A CENTRAL NECK PORTION AND SHOULDER PORTIONS EXTENDING OUTWARDLYFROM EACH SIDE EDGE OF SAID NECK PORTIONS AND HAVING A PAIR OF SPACEDINTEGRALLY FORMED UPPER HANGER EARS EXTENDING PERPENDICULARLY FROM AFACE OF ITS NECK PORTION, THE LOWER HANGER MEMBER HAVING A CROSS BAR,SPACED GARMENT CLIP MEMBERS DEPENDING FROM SAID CROSS BAR, A CENTRALNECK PORTION EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID CROSS BAR AND TERMINATING ATITS UPPER END IN SPACEDAPART, COPLANAR ARMS SUPPORTED AT THEIR LOWERENDS, AND A PAIR OF SPACED, INTEGRALLY FORMED LOWER HANGER EARSRESPECTIVELY EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID ARMS WITHTHE LOWER HANGER EARS POSITIONED ADJACENT OUTER FACES OF THE UPPERHANGER EARS, SAID UPPER HANGER EARS HAVING ALIGNED LATERAL THROUGHBORES, SAID LOWER HANGER EARS HAVING RESPECTIVE ALIGNED INWARDLYEXTENDING PINS EXTENDED TURNABLY THROUGH SAID RESPECTIVE BORES.